Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
John:
I have never given much thought to “silence” being an evil spirit that can be used to control another person. But I witnessed it for myself this past week. It struck me as being like “voiced” authority, but in reverse. For someone to be afraid to confront a wrong spirit for fear of “rocking the boat”, and having to deal with the reaction from that spirit, is to place yourself in submission to that spirit of evil, sullen silence. One may think that he is “keeping the peace”, but in actuality, he is giving an evil spirit just what it wants. And that spirit knows it! If one lives in fear of confronting an evil, sulking, silent spirit, it lives very happily, keeping others miserable and in submission to it.
I don’t think I have ever seen the strength and control that a spirit of silence can have over someone until I actually saw it in operation. It is a mean, cruel, self-centered, and rebellious spirit that will eventually suck the life out of everyone around it and make them as miserable as it is.
Jesus is my Hero and my Hope,
Sandy
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Yes, Sister Sandy, I have seen that spirit many times, and it is awful. But it succeeds in its selfish, self-willed purposes only when dealing with people who do not stay close to Jesus. Jesus is not manipulated by any spirit, whether silent or loud, and neither are his servants who stay close to him. Just remember what Paul wrote: “Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh” (whether it be the lust of your flesh or anyone else’s).
That phrase “keeping the peace” has been used many times by people (including parents of pouty children) who are afraid to challenge that angry, silent spirit. I have learned that “keeping the peace”, as they call it, is merely submission. “Keeping the peace” never really keeps any peace at all, and whenever I hear that phrase now, it tells me that there is no peace to keep. What the poor souls mean when they tell me, “I’m just keeping the peace” is that they are running from a confrontation with an evil spirit by doing whatever it wants done.
God’s children are never reduced to merely “keeping the peace” when we walk in the Spirit. When we walk in the Spirit, the peace of God keeps us.
Pastor John